Curriculum

Curriculum - Early Years

Class grouping:

Children in Early Years Foundation Stage are grouped by age: Nursery classes and Reception classes. All classes share a yearly planning cycle which enables children to join at any time in the year and provides the structure and repetition that very young children need.

An Adapted Curriculum:

We follow an adapted Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. The EYFS states that development “depends on each unique child having opportunities to interact in positive relationships and enabling environments”.

At Stephen Hawking School we have incorporated these themes in to our daily routine and provision (see Stephen Hawking School Early Years Curriculum). We provide developmentally appropriate, play based learning adapted to meet the specific needs of our pupils. All classes work closely alongside each other.

The Environment and Routines:

Emphasis is placed on the inside and outside learning environment, ensuring that it reflects children’s interests and learning needs. The day is clearly and sensitively structured in order to establish routines that the children can begin to learn and to anticipate.

Establishing Communication and Developing Relationships:

The development of effective communication skills is a thread which runs through the day and individualised strategies are developed including; signing, making eye contact, speaking, gesture, use of symbols and others. When children start, we provide a key worker to support them in settling into school. This enables children to develop trusting relationships with familiar adults.

Self-Help Skills:

Meal times are recognised as important times of the day, and some children in Early Years receive one to one support as required at these times. Individual feeding programmes are developed with the advice and support of the Speech and Language Therapist. Children who do not have food orally have the opportunity to explore food through messy play.

Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their self-care needs as soon as they can, and for some this will include toilet training, using adapted toilets and potty chairs as required.

Learning Targets:

Children’s Individual Education Plan targets underpin all of their learning. Therapy programmes are incorporated into our play based learning activities and daily routines. Wherever possible the therapists work in the classroom alongside class staff so that the children have familiar people around them.

Assessment:

Children’s progress is observed and recorded in the Early Years Observation Record. Progress is assessed using The Developmental Journal for Children and Young People with Complex Needs and the Development Matters section of the EYFS (see EYFS Areas of Learning and SHS Curriculum Areas).

Curriculum - Key Stage 1

There are three Key Stage 1 classes. These classes continue to build on the skills and knowledge gained during the pupils’ time in Early Years. We continue to work on each child’s communication skills and use visual, tactile and auditory cues. We have a structured day that can be developed and understood by the pupils. Communication is seen as vital to the development of all other areas of the curriculum.

In addition to specific lessons, each class has a yearly cycle of topics which gives pupils access to a full and rich range of experiences and opportunities. The topics range from ‘Growth’ to ‘On the Move’. These topics offer the pupils the opportunity to go on educational visits. For many of the pupils, a more focussed curriculum is offered so that they are able to concentrate on opportunities that are important to them.

Religious education and personal and social education are incorporated into the curriculum and school day via assemblies, celebrations, reflection and quiet time. The curriculum is individualised to meet the needs of the pupils, working in a child centred way. Lessons are taught in whole class, small groups and one to one.

At Key Stage 1 the pupils move from the classroom to the dining hall for their midday meals.

Assessment in Key Stage 1 is via teacher assessment. The P Levels are used to assess pupil achievement in National Curriculum subjects.

Curriculum - Key Stage 2

There are four Key Stage 2 classes. As with Key Stage 1, each class has a yearly plan to ensure that all pupils are taught the full range of subjects offered by the school’s curriculum. Most pupils will be accessing a more focussed curriculum and are taught via the school’s schemes of work. These schemes of work are linked back to the National Curriculum. All assessment is via teacher assessment. The P Levels are used to assess pupil achievement in the National Curriculum. In addition, each pupil’s individual education plans have targets relating to communication and personal and social education — learning skills.